One third of Britons don't have enough savings to survive just FIVE DAYS out of work

Nearly a third of Britons do not have enough savings to last them for just five days if they were unable to work, a survey has suggested.

Three out of 10 people have less than £249 set aside to see them through an emergency, a third of whom have no savings at all, according to high street bank HSBC.

The group said the sum was equivalent to just five days' average take-home pay, well down on the three months' salary that financial advisers suggest people have set aside as a safety net.

Savings woe: one third of Britons have less than £249 set aside for emergencies such as job loss

Only one in five people said they would be able to continue paying their mortgage or rent or other bills if they were unable to work or lost their job, with 36% saying they would rely on government support.

A further 22% said they would have to rely on their partner to cover the bills if they were not working.